Lizzi: That's a great idea!
Maude: I live in Virginia, Lizzi lives in Washington, and Esther lives in Kentucky but we all grew up in Ohio.
Virginia is obviously the South.
Washington is the northwest
And Kentucky could be considered part of several different regions.
Ohio is the north (as we all know from the "California Girls" song by the Beach Boys, right Liz?)
Lizzi: Haha! Yes!
Funny that some people consider it midwest, huh?
Maude: Growing up we decided we were most definitely north not midwest because of the lyrics to that song! Midwest starts at the Mississippi
Lizzi: I guess it is from when the West was originally settled
Maude: Esther, what region would you consider Kentucky to be a part of?
I would like each of us to give a little info about our current region. Some cultural aspects or historical places of note, whatever.
Would you agree?
I hold to a multitude of regions in the US much more than the general five or so most people think of
Esther: that sounds good to me
Lizzi: But what directional status?
Maude: what do you mean, Lizzi?
Lizzi: You know: South, West, East, etc
Maude: I have no idea what you are asking
Directional status regarding what?
Lizzi: Because if you said Appalachia, then Western Washington would be "Cascadian" or "Puget Sound"
Esther: South
right?
Lizzi: Ok, good
That's what I would say, I guess
Maude: Puget Sound only covers one state so it is not a national region
Again the Cascades are not much bigger
Lizzi: But what about the mountain ranges out here?
Maude: Appalachia covers about 13 states but more than that it isn't just geographic it is cultural
Esther: definitely! It has so much history
Maude: The Appalachian Mountains cover much more area than is typically considered the Appalachia region. The Cascades don't really have a cultural heritage and if they do the urban centers of western Washington would certainly not fall within that
Lizzi: I am not disagreeing with you about Kenttucky being an appalachian state
I was just thinking that we were talking about compass-type direction, ya know?
Maude: Right.
I would consider Kentucky to be part of the north
Since it is above the Mason-Dixon line and was on the side of the north during the Civil War.
This is why I asked Esther what region she would consider herr state a part of!
It is very complex but from a cultural perspective I think Kentucky falls into the Appalachian cultural region
So Esther - what region do you want to claim for Kentucky for the purposes of this chat? lol!
Esther: Well, that may be true but I think culturally it feels much more southern
I guess I will "claim" Appalachian.
Maude: That is fine. Southerners are probably rolling over in their graves!!!
Esther: :)
Maude: Okay
Esther: well, I am from Ohio
so it feels pretty south to me!
Lizzi: :)
Maude: From Ohio it feels Southern because it is south of Ohio!! From Georgia they probably think of Kentucky as closer to Minnesota!
Anyway... so tell us a little about your region (or state)
Esther: Can I tell you about my city? I honestly don't feel like I am super in-tune to KY (the state) but I do love this city
Maude: Go ahead
Esther: Louisville is kind of an odd city because it is not massive (like D.C. or some of the other big cities) but it has all these little pockets of the city that have it's own flavor but still is small enough that you sense a bit of unity between the whole city
Maude: That is cool
Lizzi: That's neat!
Esther: It is also a very friendly city
I wave to people and they wave back!
YAY
Maude: That's nice!
Lizzi: That is so wonderful
Esther: I think that may be the main reason I like this place
so friendly
Maude: You are so cute, Esther
Esther: well, thank you :)
Maude: That is nice - not like DC
Lizzi: When we moved out here it was a little shocking sometimes because the culture is so different from back home
Maude: Tell me more, tell me more, tell me more!
(Grease!)
Lizzi: :)
Well, I don't even know if I can explain it all
Washington is full of nature-lovers because it has a wide variety of natural attractions
Mountains, ocean, lakes,
Maude: They say that every type of natural environment can be found in Washington -
even rainforest!
Esther: So beautiful out there!
Lizzi: Yeah. We've lived here almost seven years and there is still so much we haven't seen!
But I was used to a much more conservative environment, and it is definitely not out here
Maude: That would be hard for me
Lizzi: yeah
Even christians who are conservative seem to be more liberal! haha
Maude: That is true, I am sure.
That is like Europe. Christians there are SO liberal!
It is weird
Lizzi: yeah. I have to always re-think things I thought to be solid truths, ya know?
Maude: Yes, but they should be too!
Lizzi: yeah
Maude: It is good to live in different areas and see what other people think and how they live
Lizzi: But it is also much more diverse, and so that has been very benfecical to my interracial family. It has been an enriching and educational experience for me
Esther: that is one of the things I like about the city
different types of people
Lizzi: But we really do enjoy all the wonderful array of Asian cuisine! That is a definite plus!!!
Esther: Bubble tea!
Lizzi: mmmhmmm
Maude: Even being able to buy some of the things Daniel likes at the store is nice. You wouldn't be able to find hardly anything out here in rural Virginia probably!
Esther: we just had another place open up with it!
Lizzi: Yeah, exactly
Maude: I know of no bubble tea shops in my area!
Lizzi: And it is really good for our boys, ya know?
Maude: It is good for your boys to be able to learn and experience a little more of their daddy's culture than they would be able to here
About Virginia...
I really like all the history. Everywhere you go there are battlefields from the Revolutionary War and the Civil War.
Esther: that is so neat
Maude: There are old houses everywhere and 3 presidents homes within a half hour drive of my house
Lizzi: That is so awesome!
Maude: There are huge mansions/horse farms sprinkled thoroughout the rolling hills at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains
Lizzi: a rich educational experience!
Maude: It is gorgeous country to drive through
yes, on Constitution Day we spent the day at James Madison's house and they had a man dressed up as James Madison and my son still talks about going to "Mr. Madison's house."
Esther: One thing Louisville has that I forgot about is the Kentucky Derby
Esther: men wear their suits
Maude: I would like to see the Kentucky Derby sometime - that is cool
Esther: it is so fun to see. It is like the city steps back in time
I know I would like to go this year
Maude: All of the universities in this area were founded by a president and last weekend we drove through the VMI (Virginia Military Institute) grounds which is where the Civil War was birthed
Very cool and this is the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. Did you all know that?
There are signs everywhere around here!
Esther: no
that is so fun!
Maude: Yes, I am enjoying it!
What is different about where you are living now from Ohio?
Lizzi: People don't generally wave at each other around here. I'm jealous, Es!
I'm always pleasantly reminded of how friendlyy people are when I go back home
Esther: food. Louisville was named food city USA for local restuarants
Lizzi: People bike everywhere out here. Much more focus on physical exercise
Maude: Race issues here are more timid. I have never heard anyone or anything even close to being racist and I have seen a lot of interracial couples (black and white - not very many Asians here, Liz!) but people are especially approving when a white church and a black church have events together. It is sweet that people are so thrilled but a little weird that it is that big of a deal, you know?
Lizzi: well, it is a really big accomplishment! Think of the difference from 50 years ago! That's awesome
Maude: That's true although I think their minds still use 150 years ago as the point of comparison!! The church we attended previously had a dinner with a black church down the road (they have combined services once a month and do events throughout the year - which is a big deal in town as they are the only churches who do that) and one white lady explained to us that the white church started the black church over 150 years ago because "We wanted them to be able to worship with each other better." So the slave owners founded and funded the church for the slaves
In fact, when the white church was first started there were slaves as founding members
It is a very interesting history that I don't think I (as a northerner) can fully comprehend
Lizzi: I guess I am just thinking about 50 years ago since I am reading that Clarence Thomas autobiography right now...
His book is very powerful
Maude: I should
Anyway...
The last question:
What do you miss the most about Ohio?
Besides family - that is cheating
Lizzi: I was going to ask that!
haha
Maude: I think we would all agree that we miss our family the most
So second most -
Lizzi: ok. Hmmm...
I do like the "small-town feel" that really most of the state seems to display
I miss the fireflies in the summer
Maude: I miss the colder weather!!
Lizzi: Yeah!
Maude: More snow!
Less traffic, Liz?
Lizzi: Yes!
And I think the farms and Amish communities are beautiful
Maude: I miss driving past fields of corn or beans, etc. Here everyone has cows or horses and hardly anything grows in this clay-soil
Lizzi: Really?
Maude: When you track dirt into your house the carpet gets stained red
Lizzi: Oh my!
Maude: Some farmers (who raise cows) grow their own feed but very few do because it is so expensive to prepare the soil
Lizzi: Wow. Just think of how tough they had it in the early days colonizing America... and then the hard work of the slaves! What tough soil!
Maude: Partly we are close to the Blue Ridge Mountains, I would imagine the soil is better elsewhere. But there are a lot of animals and fruit trees and vines grown here that is mostly it!
Esther: Besides my family I miss...
Snow!
snowboarding
ice skating
seeing stars at night
Maude: haha! People are not going to believe you went snowboarding in Ohio!
Esther: and barns and fields
for real
Lizzi: Yeah, all the open spaces!
Esther: Kentucky maybe gets two inches of snow than it all melts!
so depressing!
Maude: That's how I feel about Virginia!
This city goes crazy for that
All the ladies come out in their big brimmed hats
Maude: Very cool.
No comments:
Post a Comment